Can you feel the Kenergy? You can if you watch Ryan Gosling perform “I’m Just Ken” in a pink suit. The yearning power ballad, written by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, was a show-stopping number in Barbie, the highest-grossing movie of 2023 — and a highlight of the 2024 Oscars with cameos from Margot Robbie, Greta Gerwig, Emma Stone, and even Slash.
The thing is, “I’m Just Ken” almost didn’t make it into Barbie. “At that first screening the song wasn’t working. I panicked. The humor wasn’t translating and Greta had to fight,” Ronson told the Times. “The studio asked her how much she really needed it and she said, ‘With every inch of my body.’ And then there was a big swing.”
The song has even become an unlikely inspirational anthem. “I know I’ll sound like David Brent, but the song helped young boys,” Ronson said. “My friend’s eight-year-old got broken up with and he said, ‘It’s OK, because Ken got broken up with by Barbie.’ The song tells boys that it’s OK to be runner-up. The internet’s caused a level of isolation in boys and this idea of male camaraderie and sharing your feelings is a nice and unexpected thing to come out of it.”
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Margot Robbie has disputed Ryan Gosling’s reported hesitancy to perform “I’m Just Ken” at the Oscars later today. “He jumped at this. He’s going to crush it. I’m so excited. I think he’s going to be the highlight of the whole night. I think a lot of people are going to be tuning in for this specific performance,” Robbie told Variety. Gosling is nominated for “Best Supporting Actor” for his role in Barbie, and it is his third Oscar nomination overall. Previously, he was nominated for 2006’s Half Nelson and 2016’s La La Land.
The hesitancy to perform came during Gosling’s February cover interview with Variety. “It might be too much of a risk to have me do it. I don’t know how that would work. But I’m open to it,” Gosling said. “I’m Just Ken”, an emotional late-story identity ballad for Gosling’s character, is one of two songs from Barbie up for an Oscar tonight. The other is Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”.
Meanwhile, per TMZ, Pinterest was flooded with searches related to Barbie in the months before its release. Compared to May 2022, May 2023 saw a host of searches spike. “Barbiecore” was up 980% while “Barbie Mood Board” was up 1280%. Elsewhere, “Barbie live-action” and “Barbie Margot Robbie” rose 1305% and 1630%. Finally, “hot pink chrome nails” rose 1465%. The world is getting on the Barbification train. “Dua Lipa Barbie” (the singer both had a song in the film and played “Mermaid Barbie”) saw a 43-fold increase in searches. “Barbie adult birthday party” is up 12-fold.
However, Pinterest wasn’t the only place where Barbie took a firm hold on trending topics. While much more fickle in its searches, Tumblr has also seen Barbie trend several times over recent months. However, given Tumblr’s attention span, tastes, and long-standing culture war with “aesthetics”, the site has been much more about the memes than the visual styles of the film.
For a little while, there was some uncertainty about whether Ryan Gosling would perform his Barbie movie favorite “I’m Just Ken” at the 2024 Oscars. A few days ago, though, Varietyconfirmed that he will take the Academy Awards stage to bust out the song, and now the Academy itself has revealed the full list of musical performers set to play their songs at this year’s ceremony, on March 10 at 7 p.m. ET.
Who Is Performing At The 2024 Oscars?
There are five songs nominated for the Best Original Song award this year, and as Variety notes, all of them will be performed during this year’s ceremony. The list of songs and their performers is as follows:
“The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot (performed by Becky G, music and lyrics by Diane Warren)
“I’m Just Ken” from Barbie (performed by Ryan Gosling and Mark Ronson, music and lyrics by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt)
“It Never Went Away” from American Symphony (performed by Jon Batiste, music and lyrics by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson)
“Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” from Killers Of The Flower Moon (performed by Scott George and the Osage Singers, music and lyrics by Scott George)
“What Was I Made For?” from Barbie (performed by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, music and lyrics by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell).
Jon Batiste. “It Never Went Away” from ‘American Symphony.’ LIVE at the Oscars.
Greta Gerwig, a beacon in the filmmaking world, has etched her name in cinema with a unique blend of artistry and insight. Her rise from indie darling to a powerhouse director is marked by films that resonate deeply with audiences and critics alike. As of 2024, Gerwig’s net worth stands at an impressive $12 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. It reflects her significant impact on the industry, despite recent unexpected turns in her career, such as the Oscar snub for her film Barbie.
The Evolution Of A Filmmaker: Gerwig’s Cinematic Journey
Hari Nef, Greta Gerwig and Kylie Jenner at the 81st Golden Globe Awards held at the. Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024 via Getty Images)
Gerwig’s filmography is a diverse canvas showcasing her growth from an actor in the mumblecore movement to a writer-director of acclaim. Her directorial debut, Lady Bird, catapulted her to the forefront of cinema, followed by her astute adaptation of Little Women. However, her 2023 film Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, marked a new pinnacle in her career. The film, a critical and commercial juggernaut, was a satirical take on misogyny and societal norms. It earned plaudits for its innovative storytelling and direction.
Recognition & Irony: The “Barbie” Oscar Snub
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 30: Greta Gerwig (L) and Margot Robbie attend the “Barbie.” Celebration Party at Museum of Contemporary Art on June 30, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. “Barbie”, directed by Greta Gerwig, stars Margot Robbie, America Ferrera and. Issa Rae, and will be released in Australia on July 20 this year. (Photo by James Gourley/Getty Images)
Despite the overwhelming success of Barbie, both Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie faced a surprising snub at the Oscars. It was an event that caused a stir in the industry. Gerwig did snag a nomination for Best Screenplay, but she was absent from the Best Director category. The film’s powerful narrative on gender stereotypes and its commercial success made the snub more ironic, especially given Ryan Gosling’s nomination for the same film. This incident highlighted ongoing conversations about recognition and representation in Hollywood. Gerwig’s and Robbie’s omission from the nominations is seen as a significant oversight.
Beyond The Lens: Gerwig’s Personal & Philanthropic Endeavors
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 25: (L-R) Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Margot Robbie and. Greta Gerwig attend the red carpet promoting the upcoming film “Barbie” at the Warner Bros. Pictures Studio presentation during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National. Association of Theatre Owners, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 25, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Greg Doherty/WireImage)
Gerwig’s influence extends beyond her directorial accomplishments. Known for her advocacy for gender equality in Hollywood, she continues to use her voice to champion more inclusive narratives in cinema. Her personal life, though she keeps it private, is an integral part of her creative process, often reflected in the authenticity and depth of her films. Her commitment to philanthropy, particularly in arts education, underscores her dedication to fostering new talent and perspectives in the industry.
Greta Gerwig’s ascent to a net worth of $12 million is interwoven with her contributions to cinema as a visionary director and storyteller. Her career, highlighted by films like “Barbie,” demonstrates her ability to challenge norms and captivate audiences, making her one of the most influential figures in contemporary filmmaking.
It should not be a shock to you that Ryan Gosling is a talented musician, or that the man has a Halloween-themed band called Dead Mans Bones where he sings about death alongside a choir of schoolchildren. The fact that that wasn’t nominated for a Grammy is shocking, but they seem to be making up for it this year by finally recognizing Gosling’s contribution to the music industry and giving him a Grammy nom. He’s come so far.
“I’m Just Ken” from Warner Bros smash hit Barbiereceived a nomination for Best Song Written For Visual Media, along with fellow Barbie nominee Billie Eilish, who also received a nom for “What Was I Made For,” a song that will make you cry no matter where you are or what you are doing. Also nominated are Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, and Aqua for “Barbie World” and Dua Lipa for “Dance The Night” so Barbie has some stiff competition with herself.
Unfortunately, Gosling did not receive recognition for his cover of “Push” by Matchbox Twenty but there’s always the Kid’s Choice Awards for that one.
Barbie’s director Greta Gerwig told Rolling Stone earlier this year that the track came together organically. “He has a beautiful voice, and he’s a beautiful dancer. We kind of got there organically. I think if I had said, ‘I want you to sing and dance in this movie,’ he would not have necessarily done that for me. But it was kind of that thing of boiling a lobster. I think by the time he was singing and dancing, he didn’t even totally know how we had gotten there. [Laughs] But he’s so fabulous at it.” Pete Davidson was also fabulous at it.
Until the Grammys hold the ceremony where the winners are announced, feel free to watch this video every day.
Amid the forthcoming release of Britney Spears’ new memoir, all kinds of new information about the singer’s life and work is emerging. That was the case earlier this week when it was revealed her very first hit almost went to somebody else. Producer and songwriter Max Martin shopped “Baby One More Time” around for a while before it landed with Spears. Reportedly both TLC and Backstreet Boys turned the song down before it eventually landed with her.
Now another new story is emerging, this time to do with Britney’s on-screen history. While she has appeared on-screen a few times, most notably in the film Crossroads she isn’t exactly well known for her acting. But that could have easily been very different if she had been cast in the adaptation of Nicolas Sparks’ The Notebook. Spears auditioned for the role of Allie, which ended up going to Rachel McAdams who acted alongside Ryan Gosling in the final film. Now, the audition tape she recorded in 2002 has officially hit the internet via The Daily Mail. Check out the full video below.
Fans online aren’t the only ones impressed with Britney’s performance. “Britney wasn’t just good – she was phenomenal,” the casting director for the film told The Daily Mail. “It was a tough decision. Britney blew us all away. Our jaws were on the floor. I was blown away. Absolutely blown away. She brought her A-game that day,” he expanded.
Other revelations surrounding her new memoir have been about Justin Timberlake. She shared a story about Justin getting her pregnant back when the pair were dating, though they both agreed it wasn’t the right time. Britney was actually on the set of Crossroads when Timberlake broke up with her via text. The negative association with her experience on the film reportedly inspired her to turn away from acting. What do you think of Britney’s original audition tape for The Notebook? Let us know in the comment section below.
Late in the movie, after Ken (played by Ryan Gosling) takes over Barbie Land and turns Barbie’s Dreamhouse into Ken’s Mojo Dojo Casa House, Barbie (Margot Robbie) hatches a plan with her fellow Barbies to return things to the way they were. (It’s impossible to discuss this movie and not say the word “Barbie” 7,000 times.) The scheme involves having all the Kens serenade their Barbies with an acoustic version of “Push” by Matchbox Twenty.
It may have seemed that Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach were making fun of Rob Thomas & Co. for their post-grunge angsty anthem, which was released when they were still “Matchbox 20” (this is important to me, a guy whose first email address referenced “Back 2 Good”). But that’s not the case.
“I will say there were many notes, many notes sessions on all fronts, but the thing is that anything that have in a movie, any reference — and we reference The Godfather, Matchbox Twenty, Dave Matthews Band — I love all of it,” Gerwig told IndieWire. “I never put anything in a movie I don’t love, and that’s true. I don’t really have use for things that I don’t have affection for, within a movie. That was the core of it.”
What ’90s song will Gerwig deconstruct next? My money’s on Everclear’s “Santa Monica.”
The much-hyped Barbie movie is getting closer and closer, and as it does, we’re learning more about the film’s music. A Dua Lipa song for the soundtrack, “Dance The Night,” will be here in a matter of hours. Now, we know who else will be involved with the soundtrack.
As Rolling Stone revealed today, the project will feature Ava Max, Charli XCX, Dominic Fike, Dua Lipa, Fifty Fifty, Gayle, Haim, Ice Spice, Kali, Karol G, Khalid, The Kid Laroi, Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, PinkPantheress, Ryan Gosling, and Tame Impala. That’s not even everybody, as more artists are set to be announced ahead of the project’s release. Mark Ronson is the album’s executive producer.
Gosling on the soundtrack may seem like a surprise to some, but it shouldn’t: Aside from all the singing he did in La La Land, his band Dead Man’s Bones put out a self-titled album in 2009 (and Cat Power covered one of their songs in 2021).
Beyond that, Minaj’s presence is also notable, since she’s long adopted a Barbie persona. Ava Max, meanwhile, previously sampled Aqua’s classic “Barbie Girl” on her own 2017 track, “Not Your Barbie Girl.”
The album is set for release on July 21, the same day the movie premieres.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The latest Barbie trailer was recently released, and it’s given yet another insight into what the movie’s going to be about. Ahead of its July 21 arrival (the same day as Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer in an admittedly bold move), precious few details are out on the movie. Two trailers have been shared. The first was an homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey with shots pulled and recreated from Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi classic. The second was a showcase of some of the things to expect (namely the type of humor) and the basic premise. Here’s what we know so far.
Barbie 2023: Who’s In The Movie?
While it may not be competing with Nolan’s Oppenheimer in terms of sheer cast size and quality, the ensemble for Greta Gerwig’s third outing as a director is pretty exceptional. It’s led by Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, who will be playing Barbie and Ken, respectively. However, since there were a lot of different Ken dolls as well as the titular female and other characters, there were a lot more actors and actresses involved. Other notable names in the cast include John Cena, Helen Mirren, Will Ferrell, Du aLipa, Michael Cera, and Kate McKinnon.
It’s a pretty deep cast with a wide range of actors. Most of them are playing Kens or Barbies, but Michael Cera will be Allan, the random non-Ken doll that Barbie had briefly. Will Ferrell is the Mattel CEO from the real world. Other characters will likely be played by extras, as that is the extent of the cast on IMDb.
At first glance, the upcoming Barbie movie looks like a bit of a slapstick comedy about a doll trying to navigate the real world. That’s probably going to be true. The trailers indicate that Barbie and Ken are going to the real world, though it remains to be seen if that’s an intentional move or not. However, Greta Gerwig doesn’t make surface level movies. Lady Bird and Little Women are both excellent and deep films that have a lot of themes, motifs and ideas. One can reasonably expect Barbie to be the same.
Ultimately, this will likely shake out to be a bit of a coming of age story. Barbie lives in the Dreamworld where she and her doll counterparts run everything. It’s a true matriarch where the Ken dolls (and presumably Michael Cera’s Allan) are just accessories to Barbie. She’s headed for the real world where everything is patriarchal and she’s a woman that looks like Margot Robbie. She’s in for a big awakening and that’s likely going to be the underlying struggle.
Will Ken Be The Film’s Antagonist?
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 28: Ryan Gosling is seen on the set of the movie ‘Barbie’ on June 28, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bellocqimages/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
It’s going to be the same for Ken, though. There’s a distinct possibility that Gosling’s Ken becomes the antagonist or at the very least a foil to Robbie’s Barbie. They could completely butt heads based on their discoveries. Ken will be leaving a world where he has no identity apart from being Barbie’s boyfriend. He’s nothing without her and he’s headed to a world where men are inherently valued more. It will be a big awakening for him, too, and it might reveal some internal conflict he didn’t know was there.
Both characters will be reckoning with the real world where their roles are significantly different. Barbie will be hit with the realization that the real world is much worse for her, but Ken will learn that it’s a lot better for him. Further, count on Gerwig to explore these themes with expert accuracy. She hasn’t missed on a movie yet and Barbie certainly doesn’t look like her first misfire. Her films have been beloved by critics, but this will be the least “artsy” of the three.
Barbie is an interesting lens to view this story through because she has been an important toy for young girls through the years. Can the movie be the same? Gerwig is an excellent choice to at least attempt to do the same. She’ll likely be successful, too. At first glance, the Barbie movie looks like a fun, colorful movie about a toy. While that’s going to remain true, it looks like it will be much deeper than that and will explore a lot of dark subject matter and themes. Nevertheless, it may end up being a popular film come awards season.
The Barbie movie hits theaters July 21, which means early showings will take place on Thursday, July 20. It’s unlikely that any more trailers will be released and the film’s true plot will be kept under wraps until then. That day will be a big one for cinemas everywhere. Will you be heading to see Barbie or Oppenheimer first? Both movies figure to do extremely well and it will be interesting to see which film outperforms the other. Fairly or not, they will be forever linked based on their release date. Based on the recent trailer’s humor, a PG-13 rating or higher is all but assured. However, Gerwig’s first two films were rated R (Lady Bird) and PG (Little Women).
After months of anticipation, Greta Gerwig has finally unveiled the second teaser trailer for her upcoming Barbie movie. We’ve previously seen photos of stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling rollerblading around California in their neon spandex, but now, movie lovers are getting a better idea of what to expect from the upcoming comedy. It appears the famous blonde doll and her handsome beau, Ken, will cross dimensions from their home to the “real world” on the big screen, though she remains unaware of his presence until they’ve already crossed over.
“I’m coming with ya,” the Canadian actor, in character as the blond stud declares. “Did you bring your rollerblades?” an exasperated Barbie asks, seemingly expecting to be disappointed. “I literally go nowhere without them!” Ken excitedly confirms. Elsewhere in the under-two-minute-long teaser, we also see Gosling face off against Simu Liu, who previously admitted to painfully waxing his entire body for the part. On top of that, fans will also witness the acting debut of pop sensation Dua Lipa, who plays a mermaid.
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie Teaser #2 Has Arrived
Since the preview arrived on Tuesday (April 4) morning, social media has been sharing plenty of thoughts, many of them about the La La Land actor specifically. “Me in the theatre watching ‘Barbie’ every time Ryan Gosling’s Ken says anything,” one troll wrote alongside a video of The Office cast snickering during a blooper on set. “He looks like Grandpa Ken,” another person chimed in. When the film’s casting was first announced there was some online discourse regarding the 42-year-old’s age, and if he was the best choice for the part.
“The Ken’s are just not Kenning for me, I’m sorry,” someone else tweeted. “But I’ll be seated regardless.” No matter what people think of the male lead, they’re certainly pleased with Robbie’s casting as the beloved blonde beauty. Check out Barbie‘s second teaser trailer on YouTube above, and keep scrolling to see Twitter’s reaction to the Ryan Gosling renaissance. Afterward, let us know if you’ll be tuning into the upcoming film later this spring in the comments.
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